Gestalt art experience with Janie Rhyne

Authors:Janet Greenwood, University of California, Berkeley University Extension

Summary:(Critical) This program demonstrates the use of three different media in a Gestalt Art experience. In a brief interview art therapist Janie Rhyne, describes her methods to encourage total involvement in the expression of feeling through art activities. Adult group participants explore self-expression through drawing, rhythmic movement and sound, clay and paper sculpture; a discussion of personal associations with the activities is presented. This program a demonstrates consistent but limited approach to an art therapy technique. Although these techniques could be applied to evaluation of self-concept in psychiatry, the objectives are not clearly stated. The production is well organized, but the audio quality is not good, and the work area, paper size, and setting are crowded for the group's size. It is recommended with reservations for use